10 Dog Health Problems That Might Have Originated From Dog Food

You love your dog as if it were your child, so you should nourish it with foods that empower a long and healthy life. Many popular dog food brands offer appealing prices, but they use harmful and unnecessary ingredients that don’t fulfill your pet’s nourishment needs. Feeding your furry friend the wrong food could cause them to develop serious dog health problems. 

At XDOG, we want to make it easier for dog owners to feed their pets healthy, wholesome, and sustaining ingredients that improve their quality of life. Continue reading to learn about the ten different dog health issues that could originate from the food you feed your dog. If you notice any of these conditions, your pet's diet could be to blame.

1. Allergic Reactions

Dogs can have allergic reactions to foods, just like humans. Sometimes, pet food brands include wheat products, dairy, corn, chicken, and other additives within the blend that commonly cause allergies. Allergic reaction symptoms include:

• Rashes
• Runny eyes
• Itching
• Swelling
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

If your dog displays these symptoms, try selecting a food brand that doesn’t include common allergens. 

2. Pica

Pica is an eating disorder in which your pup eats non-edible items, like grass or feces. While this behavior is common, it still warrants concerns. Some dogs do it out of boredom, which is hard to control, but others do it because they lack certain nutrients in their diet.

When your dog eats feces, it has a high risk of contracting various diseases and bacteria, which could develop into much more serious conditions. Try adding more nutrition into your dog’s diet with XDOG's high-quality dog food, and monitor the poop-eating behavior. 

3. Diabetes

Cheap dog foods frequently rely on highly processed carbohydrates rather than proteins. Such ingredients are more economical to produce, though they cause your dog’s glycemic index to spike. Consistent high carb and sugar intake without adequate protein can cause diabetes. 

To avoid the dangerous complications and frustrating insulin injections that come with diabetes, pick a brand that boasts high protein levels, like XDOG. 

4. Malnutrition 

Like humans, dogs require a balanced diet of different food groups, vitamins, and minerals. Without the necessary nutrients, they may suffer a wide range of dog health problems, including everything from dental disease to an ear infection. 

When it comes to nutrition, you must look beyond the calories and consider the major food groups. Feeding your dog larger portions won’t solve malnutrition problems and might worsen things. Instead, consider picking a more nutritious blend of dog food. 

5. Heart Disease

While too many carbs can harm your dog, too few can cause serious problems. Many pet owners think “grain-free” dog foods and strictly carnivore diets benefit their dogs, though this lack of nutrition can cause heart disease. 

The US Food and Drug Administration discovered a link between these carnivore diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (CDC). CDC inhibits blood circulation and inflames the heart. 

When designing your dog's diet, try to include a healthy balance between protein, veggies, carbs, and fats. 

6. Pancreatitis and Urinary Stones

High-fat diets can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which is severe inflammation of the pancreas, causing extremely painful reactions. Dog foods with the wrong protein sources can cause urinary stones, crystals, or a urinary tract infection. While you shouldn’t cut fat or protein from your dog’s diet, focus instead on finding a brand chock-full of healthy fats and clean proteins to avoid these painful problems.  

7. Obesity

Every dog has different nutritional and caloric needs. Depending on their size, activity levels, breed, age, and goals, you need to adjust how much they eat. Many food brands offer recommended serving amounts based on dog size, though this generalized portion often leads to overfeeding. 

Feeding dogs too many calories per day, particularly if the food has high levels of unhealthy fats, leads to obesity. Obesity is a serious condition that can cause the following ailments:

• Joint pain
• Trouble breathing
• Shortened lifespan

If you think your dog is overweight, visit a vet to discuss a diet plan. Usually, trimming down on calories, adding daily exercise, and picking a more nutritious dog food can help your pup easily lose weight.

8. Gastroenteritis 

Gastroenteritis is a broad term for stomach inflammation, infections, viruses, or flu cases. Your dog could pick up a stomach bug from many things, but their food is often the culprit. Some canned food and kibble brands frequently recall products because of the following bacterial contaminations:

• Salmonella
• E. coli
• Clostridium
• Campylobacter

Raw diets also have increased risks for exposure to the above bacteria due to the lack of proper cleaning. Severe infections could cause bloody stool, dehydration, hospitalization, and death. Occasionally, pets can also transfer these bacteria to their owners, putting you at risk for the same symptoms. 

9. Hyperparathyroidism

Many dog food brands lack the necessary calcium dogs need in their daily diets. Inadequate calcium could cause hyperparathyroidism, kidney stones, excessive urination, and developmental bone disease. Metabolic diseases are not as common as other dog health problems on this list, though they could cause serious long-term problems for your pet. 

10. Bone Deformities

Too much calcium can also harm your dog. Excessive calcium and vitamin D diets frequently cause elbow or hip dysplasia and bone deformities. 

Certain breeds, like German Shepherds, have increased chances of developing hip dysplasia. If your pup has this increased risk, ensure that you don’t feed it too much calcium, as you might worsen the condition. 

Keep Your Dog Healthy by Picking Clean Ingredients

Avoid dog health problems by picking a food brand that boasts nutritious and clean ingredients. The blend should include an appropriate balance of all the necessary food groups, vitamins, and minerals. Do your research to find products that haven't had recalls due to pesticides, toxins, antibiotics, or pathogens.

Your dog is family, so you want to treat them that way. Finding food that meets all their needs is challenging, especially when so many sub-par options exist. 

At XDOG, we created a product that features all of the essential dog food ingredients without anything harmful. Shop online today!